i hav a 280ZX n/a...i wanna go turbo. i hav heard statements about just buying the turbo motor & install it. but if the CR is 8.X:1 & the ZXturbo is 7.X:1, all modern engines use 8.X:1 for turbos...why can't i use my orig. motor & put a turbo header, custom FMIC & rebuild the fuel system + turbo ECU?

Honda guys do it?

You can, but the design of the engine is what determined the appropriate CR's that the factory used.

I have done just that - stock L28E, custom exhaust, FMIC, aftermarket ECU, limited to 6-7psi.

But if you get the factory L28ET, with it's lower CR & better head design. You will be able to screw in around 1-bar with a decent management system & produce much more power.

When you look at boosted motors, the piston is almost always different. This is not just about compression, or heads, but also about ringland strength. There are boosted 240 engines out there also, again they end up breaking ring lands with power, if you hit detonation it should be instantaneous or near instant death for the engine, the turbo engine would have a little more leeway but detonating on cast pistons is not advised at all.

Ripping off the entire top end and manifolds, and then wiring for the turbo car versus just dropping the engine in and then fixing the wiring, makes just swapping engines look easier. I just did the swap over the weekend in my 240 and removing/reinstalling these engines took a day. Doing the whole top end removal and reassembly could be done in a day, but why all that hassle? Find a complete car and gut it. I got my 280ZXT car for $150 with 70k miles on the clock.